[38] I spell the word as pronounced, never having seen it written.
[39] The beaver is, however, becoming rare in these regions. It is a curious fact connected with the physiology and psychology of instinct, that the beaver is found to change its instincts and modes of life, as it has been more and more persecuted, and, instead of being a gregarious, it is now a solitary animal. The beavers, which are found living in solitary holes instead of communities and villages, the Indians call by a name which signifies Old Bachelor.
[40] "The whole history of Indian warfare," says Mr. Schoolcraft, "might be challenged in vain for a solitary instance of this kind. The Indians believe that to take a dishonourable advantage of their female prisoners would destroy their luck in hunting; it would be considered as effeminate and degrading in a warrior, and render him unfit for, and unworthy of, all manly achievement."
[41] "The total descent of the Fall of St. Mary's has been ascertained to be twenty-two and a half perpendicular feet. It has been found impracticable to ascend the rapid; but canoes have ventured down, though the experiment is extremely nervous and hazardous, and avoided by a portage, two miles long, which connects the navigable parts of the strait."—Bouchette's Canada.
[42] Ant. I know you now, Sir, a gentleman born.
Clo. Aye, that I have been any time these four hours.—Winter's Tale.
[43] The name is thus pronounced, but I have seen it spelt Wabbajik.
[44] From Mr. Schoolcraft, translated literally by Mrs. Schoolcraft.
[45] This amiable and interesting creature died a few years ago.
[46] The reader will have the goodness to remark that all this passage relating to the Queen stands verbatim in the original printed in 1838.